Needle bed



Feb. 28, 1933, R. H. LAWSON ET AL NEEDLE BED Filed Sept. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 1 .m 0 f H mm m w 8 0 3 4 H m *6 A x Q? a, mv I a .7 n 1 P 2 F fi n R W w 8 II r T T i7 Feb. 28, 1933. v R. H. LAWSON ETAL- 1,899,278

NEEDLE BED I Filed Sept. 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS: ROBERT H. LAWS 0N, A zrc USTIN GAaArI-J,

-; ated;

Patented. Feb. .28, 1933' UNITED sums RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNORS TO HEMPHILL. COMPANY, OF'CEN'IRAL FlALLS BfioDE- PA OH ROBERT H. LAWSON; 0F PAWTUCKET, AND Auaus'rin GAGNE'; oEoENrRAL EALLs,

ISLAN D, A. CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS I NEEDLE BED This invention relates to an improved con struction of needlebed and is specifically directed to a construction of needle cylinder adapted to be used inconnection withknit- :ting machines of the typediSclosedinthe patent to I-Iemphill 5933,4 13, Sept. 7, 1909.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 disclose'sa needle cylinderpartly broken away to show a section thereof;

Fig. 1a is a fragmentary view of a modified form of retaining means for-the needle walls;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a fragment of a needle cylinder with inserted walls, the dimensions and angles being greately exagger- Fig. 8 is a detail View of a needle wall; in vertical elevation; p 1

Fig. etis a detail view; 1

Fig. 5 discloses a modified form of needle wall inserted in slots in the needle cylinder,

all parts being shown in section Fig. 6' is a sectional view of another modified form of needle wall p inserted within cylinder slots, and; I

Fig. 7 1s a sectional view of still another modified form of needle wall in place in'the cylinder slots.

- The needle cylinder-1 has its upper portion walls below the recess are slotted origrooved to provide parallel slots extending lengtlr;

wise of the cylinder; v1 Needle slots 5 are pro vided by thin metal walls 6 projecting beyond the surface ofthe cylinder 1. The walls 6 are removably seated in the cylinder Qslots,

and are tapered from the wideredge 7 to the narrower'edge 8 thereof which edges are parallel and extend lengthwise of the walls. The tapering shown greatly exaggerated in Fig. 2, is, preferabl y,uniform-from edge 7' to edge 8 of each wall and just sufiicient to compensate for the natural divergence of parallel sidedwalls due to their radial disposi i tionin'the cylindersothat the slots 5, between 2 adjacent the stitch ring 3 out with slots for v the guidance of the needles; 'A recessis pro- Appl ication filed September 16, 1929. SerialNo. 392,852.

adjacent walls 6, are the same widththroughout. Thecylinder slots as shown in Fig. 2 are correspondingly tapered to fit the needle walls 6 although-,if desired, the walls of the cylinder slots maybe parallel-sided and the needle: walls 6 forced ordri ven therein,-

the metal of the cylinder walls" running suflicient-ly to provide lateral support for the nee dle walls 6' and prevent tilting thereof; The

beveled at 11 and provided with shoulders at 12 flush'with and forming partof the recess within which the spring bands 4 are seated.

In preparing the cylinder .to receive the walls 6, theouter surface of the saidcylin'der is cutv awaycircumferentially transversely of the needle slots and also is undercut as at 9; The subsequent cutting of the cylinder" slots leaves shoulders 5" at the upper ends of the resultant cylinder walls 5, and the :heels of the needles (not shown) whenin raised position would be pressed within the bands=4,-' and'the needle buttsbroken off when engaged by the needle retracting cam, un-

less otherwise prevented. In "order toovercome the objection, the circumferential recess or slot is cut deeper than arethe subsequently cut cylinder slots, anda splitring13, cut with slots corresponding in position to the slots cut in the cylinder, is inserted therein and retained in proper position by the needle walls 6 thereafter fitted within the slots of I the cylinder. Thesplit ring 13, when in as sembled position, seats: within the circumferential recess or slot with the slots and walls 14 in alignment with the slots and walls 5' of the cylinder proper, and with the outer surface of the ring flush or substantially flush with the outer surface of the needle'cylintherebetween widening out somewhat as,

sided 'wal-ls it i I i The split ring 13 is, preferably, formed shown in Fig; 2 or slots bounded by parallel p by cutting slots in a solid ring and then splits ting the ring into two or more sections as indicated in Fig. 4c. The ring is, preferably, though not necessarily, split by cutting entirely through the ring at diametrically opposite points. When assembled within the recess of the cylinder the adjacent ends of the two half rings are separated by the width of a slot and needle walls 6 are subsequently inserted within the spaces separatingthe two halfrings as well as within the slots of the ring sections. l i

The cylinder is recessed adjacent to its lower end at 15 and within the recess is seated a sectional ring 16 retained therein by means of screws 17. The two ends of the needle walls are identically shaped and when inserted within the slots of the cylinder their bevels 18, as shownin Fig. 1, project a short distance beyond orbelow the beveled ends horizontally disposed edges 24 of the needle Z usual plate 27.

tion a broken needle wall may be removed 7 and replaced by a new one by disconnecting walls from the upper faces 25 of the sectional ring 16. When the needle walls are assembled within the cylinder slots the outer faces of the walls and ring are flush. A broken needle wall may be removed andreplaced by a new one by detaching a ring section.

In Fig. 1a. is shown a modified formof retaining means for the needle walls consisting of a needle cylinder 26 set in a recessed ring gear 27 connected thereto as by means of screws 28., In place of the sectional ring 7 16 a one piece ring 29 surrounds the cylinder and seats within a recess of .the ring gear as shown. The upper faces of the ring29 and adjacent edges of the needle' walls 6' are shaped as are the corresponding parts in Fig. 1. The ring gear is surmounted by the In this form of the inventhe needle cylinder 26 from the ring gear 27 5 and thenelevating the cylinder to separate.

the needle walls 6 from the ring 29.

In Fig. 5 is disclosed a modified'form of needle walls 30. The walls'have suiiicient taper to converge slightly, the adjacent faces 31 thereof thus constricting the needle slots the cylinder so that the slots 39 therebetween wall fits loosely in the said slot, then an overdimensioned wall is inserted but, on the other hand if the proper dimensioned wall is not received Within the slot of the cylinder, an underdimensioned wall is inserted. In this manner the cylinder is built up by employing three dimensions of needle walls though, as is evident, two sizes of the needle walls only may be sufiicient.

Walls of the. proper di- While as herein disclosed the present invention is concerned principally with hosiery knitting machines of the circular type adapted'to reciprocate during the knitting of heels and toes, the invention is not necessarily limited to circular or hosiery machines. When applied to hosiery knitting machines of the circular type the split ring 13 functions advantageously and especially so during heel and toeor other reciprocating knitting, at which times the instep or other needles are in raised inactive position and opposite the said split ring 13.

WVe claim:

1. A slotted needle bed, needle walls therein, the needle bed at one end thereof being undercut to provide 'a recess and the walls each being reduced at one end and the said ends seated in the recess, the needle bed adj acent to the recess being grooved in a direction transverse to the slots, slotted ring sections seated within the mentioned groove, the slots therein being in alignment with and supplementing the slots in the needle bed.

2. A recessed needle bed, needle walls i11- serted therein, the said walls at one end be ing seated within the recess of the bed, a

groove extending transversely of the needle walls and being formed in the outer surface of the. needle bed, a slotted member being seated within the groove and supplementing the needle bed as a support for the needle walls. l

3. A needle cylinder, parallel slots therein extending lengthwise thereof to provide walls therebetween, the cylinder adjacent to 7 one end thereof being recessed and a member being seated in the said recess which member is provided with slots and walls therebetween, the said slots and walls supplementing the slots and walls of the cylinder and being in alignment therewith, in

combination. with needle Walls which are seated in the aligned slots of the cylinder and member. Y

4. In a needle cylinder of the circular type adapted to reciprocate for heel and toe knitting, slots adjacent to the upper end thereof to guide needles therein, removable needle walls. below the slotted portion'of the cylinmember seated within a portion of the recess in the cylinder and adapted laterally to sup:

port needles. V y

11. A slotted needle bed, said needle bed being recessed transversely of the aforesaid slots, a member seated in the said transversely disposed recess, the outer'surface of such 1 member being substantially flush with the outer surface of the needle cylinder.

In testimony "whereof we affix our signatures. 1

A ROBERT H-1 LAWSON.

AUGUSTIN GAGNE;

portion of the slots consisting of a slotted,

sectional ring, the sections ofthe ring being spaced from each other, removable needle walls in the slots of the cylinder and sectional ring, the spaces between the ring sections constituting slots for the reception of some. of said needle walls.

6. A'slottedneedle cylinder, walls between the slots which walls and slots adjacent to one end'of the cylinder are removed thereby to provide a groove, a supplemental member seated in the groove and which member is provided with walls and slots therebetween and in alignmentwith the walls and slots of i thecylinder. V r i 7. A slotted needle bed,3needle walls therein, the needle bed at one endthereof being undercut to provide a recess and the walls, each being seated inthe recess, the needle bed adjacent to the recess being grooved in a direction transverse'to the slots, slotted ring sections seated within the mentioned the slots therein being inalignment with and supplementing the slots in the needle bed."

8. A recessed needle bed, needle walls in- A serted therein, the said walls being seated within the recess of the bed, a groove extending transversely ofthe needle walls and be- 7 ing formed in the outer surface of theneedle bed, a slottedmember being seated within the groove and supplementing the needle bed as, a support for the needle walls.

9. A needle cylinder having slots, needle walls removably mounted in the cylinder groove,

slots and defining needleslots, an annular re- A cess being provided in the outer face of the 1 I needle cylinder adjacent to one end of the cylinder slots and for retainingan end of each removable needle wall within its 'cylin-' der slot, an annular member seated within-a portion of the annular recess and adapted to provide alateralsupport for the needles.

10. A needle bed having slots therein to guide needles, walls defining saidfslots and beingremovably mounted in the needle bed, the needle bed being recessedin its outer face and adjacent to one end of the needle slots,

one end of each needle wall being seated within the aforesaid recess, and a slotted 

